Captivated+by+Galileo

Author: Felicia Brown email: (mailto:febefab@yahoo.com)
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Overview
GALILEO, Georgia's virtual library system, allows students and educators throughout the state of Georgia to access, view, download and print thousands of electronic magazine and journal articles, books, maps, and government documents free of charge. This is because GALILEO is funded by taxpayer dollars allocated to the University System of Georgia which includes k-12 and higher education within the state of Georgia.

The "Captivated by Galileo" interactive tutorial will be designed to instruct users on how to log in, search, download and print the resources available on GALILEO. The tutorial will guide the user through a set of simulations and required responses which will ensure that the user understands the basic functions of GALILEO and can apply the concepts covered in the tutorial. More specifically, first, the user will receive a simulation of each function (log in, search, download and print) and, then, will be asked to successfully complete a task or answer a question correctly before being able to move on to the next function in the tutorial. Additionally, in order to make the tutorial interesting and engaging, as the user successfully completes each task or answers each question correctly, they will earn //Galileo Stars*.// These stars will be earned based upon the skill level and flashed on the screen when users provide the correct action or response. To engage users further, the stars can be tallied for an overall score and compared to other users using a benchmark system provided at the end of the tutorial.

Instructional Objectives
The Captivated by Galileo" **phase one** tutorial will allow users (learners) to meet the following instructional objectives:
 * To successfully access the GALILEO website at [] using a stable internet connection and web browser.
 * To successfully log in using the password provided by a local K-12 school system, college/university or public library within the state of Georgia.
 * To successfully search for content related peer reviewed and non peer reviewed journal articles using the //search databases function// and a set of search criteria.
 * To successfully email, download and print content related journal articles using available options.

The Captivated by Galileo" **phase two** tutorial will allow users (learners) to meet the following instructional objectives:
 * To successfully search for content related books using //search databases function// and a set of search criteria.
 * To successfully search for content related maps using //search databases function// and a set of search criteria.
 * To successfully search for content related government documents using //search databases function// and a set of search criteria.
 * To successfully email, download and print content related maps and government documents using available options.

//Since this tutorial can only be 3-4 minutes long, the phase ONE tutorial will be designed and developed. However, the instructional objectives for phase TWO are relevant to the overall instructional goals of the Captivated by Galileo tutorial.//

Learners
Although GALILEO is available for all students and educators within the state of Georgia, there is a greater need for instruction on GALILEO at the high school level due to increased usage. Therefore, the "Captivated by Galileo" tutorial will be designed and developed for High School students in the state of Georgia. The typical user (learner) will be at the 9th through the 12th grade level and within the ages of 14 through 18.

Since high school students have a profound affinity for electronic equipment and information, they will already possess the skills necessary for successful completion of the tutorial. The knowledge and skills that they will most likely possess are as follows: 1) Knowledge of basic computer operation and 2) Ability to successfully use a web browser. While the typical high school student won't necessarily be that interested in using the tutorial for fun, they will recognize the usefulness of the tutorial for the purposes of instructing them on the use GALILEO and how it makes obtaining content related information easier. Additionally, they will most likely find the tutorial to be engaging because of the interactvity and the collection of //Galileo stars//.

Context of Use
The "Captivated by Galileo" tutorial will able to be used at home or in a k-12 setting such as a classroom, media center, library or computer laboratory because it will be uploaded for use using a web browser. The users (learners) will need a computer with a functional web browser such as internet explorer 6 or Firefox, a stable internet connection, and knowledge of basic computer operation and web browsing.

Motivational Issues
The "Captivated by Galileo" tutorial engages the learner in a number of ways. First, as the learner progresses through the tutorial, they are have control over each individual slide within the tutorial. This means that learners can rewind each slide and view it as many times as they like and, when ready, they can continue to the next portion of the tutorial. According to Lepper, control is one of the variables involved in providing a learner with a fun or enjoyable experience thereby causing learners to be more engaged. Second, learners will be actively involved in the tutorial by performing specific actions related to successful completion of each portion of the tutorial. In fact, learners are required to complete the actions successfully prior to being allowed to move on the next portion of the tutorial and this keeps their attention throughout the tutorial. In Keller's ARCS model, attention is one of the critical components of a successful and engaging learning experience. Learners that have full attention in the activity are more motivated and engaged in the learning process and/or activity. Lastly, learners will earn a certain number of "Galileo Stars" (points) for completing certain tasks and answering certain questions as they progress through the tutorial. According to Csikszentmihalyi, learners are most motivated and engaged when they are required to employ skills, have clear goals and feedback through the learning process, and have an awareness of their concentrated actions. The earning of Galileo stars provide immediate feedback and are only earned when skills are used and students are aware of what they are doing.

Design Process
In beginning the design process, I had to think of an idea and, honestly, I didn't have to think too long to realize that a tutorial in GALILEO would be very beneficial the target learner and would help me as a Biology teacher who often requires students to do individual research from time to time. Therefore, I "pitched" my idea to Karl Richter and was in favor of my initial idea. Later on, Karl also provided some suggestions on how begin the designing and development of the simulation/tutorial itself. In thinking through the design of this learning simulation/tutorial, I first thought about the target learner, high school students and what they would find useful in the tutorial. From personal and professional experience, I knew that high school students would not simply watch a simulation then be able to apply it in one sitting; therefore, I devised a list of critical needs of the learner, including those that would keep them interested. This coordinated well with Karl's suggestions of interactivity within the tutorial. Once I had established the needs of the learner, I then devised the objectives which weren't too difficult to devise considering the specific needs of the learners.

In looking back in my progression through the design and development of the simulation/tutorial, I have to admit that although the design of the interactivity was fairly simply, the development of it was not. Despite the time consuming element of the interactivity, it was still very necessary for a successful product and well worth the effort. However, I have to admit to having to "cut" one of the objectives originally planned for phase I of the project because the entire tutorial would have been upwards of 8 minutes long. Therefore, to keep closer to the project requirements, I chose to cut it rather than keep it in.

__ [] __** or [|**Captivated by Galileo-Felicia Brown.htm**] **(FINAL)**
 * Below, you'll find 2 links to view the FINAL tutorial, hopefully one of them will allow you to view the project.

In addition, here's a "mini viewer".

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